The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1887-12-14
Horse Whispering.


I NV 90
st. Iamcs~ Glzctte.
1t i, commonly believed that there are
/ undoubtedly mysterious influences hy
which an immediate asccndency is gained
over the horse. Independent of the pro-
cess Of teaching or the promptngs of
affection There was formerly living in
the county of Cork a family who laid
claims to the possession of secret by
which the widest or most vicious
horse could be tanned This secret is
said to have been originally impaired by
Bohemin gypsy to the head of the
family, a century and half ago, and to
have been regularly transmitted, as
parting legacy at the time of his death,
from the father to the oldest son Pos
sible there may be residing in County
Cork scion of the family still practis-
ing with more or less success, the art
of ''horse whispering;' but it is an in
disputable fact that, at the commence
lnent of the present century, the fame of
Con Sullivan, the then hca of the family,
for miraculous cures of vicious horses,
had spread far and wide throughout
Ireland.
Among the many wcll-attested accounts
of the wonderful achievements of Con
sullivan, "the Whspcrer,n the services
which he rendered to Colonel Wcstenra
who afterward succeeded to the title of
Rossmorc, were the talk of the whole
country. The colonel had u splendid race
horse called Rainbow, and he was an
XiOuS to run him at the races of the
Curragh of Kildare, but the horse was so
wild and vicious that his owner found he
must give up all thoughts of bringing
him out and running him He would bite
every one who went near him, and it was
necessary to tie up his head when the
groom who attended him was not with
him. If a horse CHANGED to be near him
he was sure to bite him, or try to; and
the legs of the jockey who attempted to
mount him did not escape his fangs.
Lord Denerailc said he knew person
who could cure him. The colonel could
not believe him, and wager of { 900
was laid on the matter. A messenger
was despatched for Con Sullivan, who
was known throughout the country side as
The Whisperer," from the suppositon
that he whispered into the horses ear,
| by which means he quoted such as were
nnruly' When he was told the state of
Colonel Westrenra'S horse he desired to
20 into the stable to see him. "You
must wait Till his head is tied up was
said and repeated by those who were
present. ''No OCCASION" said Con ahe
won't bite me-" So in he went, after
peremptorily ordering no one to follow
him till Il given signal should imply that
th9y had his permission. He then shut
the door for the inevitable tete a-tete,
In little more than quarter of an hour
the signal was heard. Those who had
been waiting in alarm for the result
rushed ill., They found the horse ex-
tended on his back playing like kitten
with the "Whisperer,' who was quietly
sitting by him. Both horses and Cd,
orator appeared exhausted, particularly
The latter, to whom it was necessary to
administer brandy and other stmulants
before he could be revived. The horse
was perfectly tame and gentle from that
day
In the spring of 1904. Mr. Whaley's
King Pippin was brought out to run at
the Curragh of Kildare. lie had been
described as horse of the most savage
and vicious disposition; he had habit
of flying at and worrying any person who
came near him. When he could turn his
head around he would seize his riders
leg with his teeth and drag him from his
back. The difficulty of managing such
horse may be conceived, and on this oc-
cassion it was impossible to put a bride |
on him. "Fhe Whisperer" was now SEM
for. lie remained shut up in the stable |
all night. In the morning King Pippin |
was seen following him like dog-lying
down at the word of command, and per-
hitting any persons, without resistance
to put his hand into his mouth, while he |
stood gentle rs lamb" He was
brought out in the course of the meeting, |
was run, and won the race.
The fame of "the Whispcrer' had now
spread throughout the country, and his |
services were in extensive demand This |
extraordinary person has been noticed in |
many and various publications. Grafton
Croker speaks of him in Fairy Legions
as ian ignorant rustic of the lowest |
class" while he bears ample testimony
to his extraordinary powers. 81 once
saw his skill, he says, "tricd on a horse |
which could never before be brought to |
stand for a smith to shoe him The day
after Sullivan's lecture went, not with
out same increduity, to the smiths shop, |
with many other curious spectators who |
were witnesses of the complete sue |
ces9 of his art. This had been a troop |
horse; it was supposed that after regi- |
mental discipline had failed no other
could be found availng. | observe that |
the animal seemed terrified when Sullivan
either spoke to him or looked at him."
How he obtained this wonderful com
mand over the horse has never yet been |
ascertaned. Some fancied that he pour
ed some opiate into the animal, while |
others ascribcd his success to magic. |
Crofton Crokes observed that "he seem
ed to possess an intuitive power Oft in
spring awe; the result perhaps. of |
natural intrepidty, in which believe
great part of his art consisted, through |
the circumstances show that on particu-
lar occasions something must have been
added to it The power of ''the Whis- |
perer" is glanced at in "Borrow's Bible in |
Span," from which, too, it would APP
pear that he had taken some lessons in
his art In 'Lavengro, the Scholar" he
enlarScs on the subject, and from what |
he says it would appear that the cure of
the animal is effected by a word. The
smith of whom he speaks, he tells us,
uttered word which had never heard
before, in sharp and pungent tone.
The effect upon myself was something
extraordinary a strange thrill ran through
me, but with regard to the cob IL was
terrible. The animal forthwith became
like one mad, and reared and kicked with
the utmost desperation. lie afterward
uttered another word in voice singularly
modified, but sweet and almost paintive
The effect of it was instantaneous as that
of the other, but was different; the animal
lost all its fury, and became at once calm
and gentle,
Domestic Receipts.